Apparatus and method for media streaming

ABSTRACT

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, dividing a media content item into a plurality of media content segments, at each media content segment of the plurality of media content segments, applying motion estimation between at least two video frames of the media content segment to determine a content weight for the media content segment, determining a bit rate for the media content segment according to the determined content weight for the media content segment, and encoding the media content segment at the determined bit rates to generate a data stream for the media content segment, whereby a plurality of data streams for the plurality of media content segments of the media content are generated, and transmitting the plurality of data streams for the plurality of media content segments of the media content to the one or more media devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates generally to media content and morespecifically to an apparatus and method for video streaming.

BACKGROUND

Media content is frequently experienced by consumers via devices such ascomputers, televisions, radios, and mobile electronics. Media content isfrequently delivered by service providers, who send the media content,such as television, radio, and video programming, directly to consumersfor enjoyment at their physical locations. Modern communication networksbenefit from interconnectivity between consumers and variouscommunication devices. As network capabilities expand, theseinterconnections provide new opportunities to enhance abilities to enjoymedia content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIGS. 1-2 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services;

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication deviceutilized in the communication systems of FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system thatperforms streaming of media content;

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method operating inportions of the systems described in FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments of a system and a method of streaming media content, wherethe streamed media content is encoded at bit rates according to thecontent weight of the media content. Other embodiments are contemplatedby the subject disclosure.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a memory storingcomputer instructions and a processor coupled to the memory. Theprocessor can perform operations responsive to executing the computerinstructions including receiving media content for distribution to oneor more media devices. The processor can perform operations for dividingthe received media content into a plurality of media content segments.For each media content segment of the plurality of media contentsegments, the processor can perform operations for determining a contentweight for the media content segment from motion estimation between atleast two video frames of the media content segment, for determining abit rate for the media content segment according to the determinedcontent weight for the media content segment, and for encoding the mediacontent segment at the determined bit rate for the media content segmentto generate a data stream for the media content segment. A plurality ofdata streams for the plurality of media content segments of the mediacontent can thereby be generated. The processor can, in turn, performoperations for transmitting the plurality of data streams for theplurality of media content segments of the media content to the one ormore media devices.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes computer instructions,which, responsive to being executed by at least one processor, can causethe at least one processor to perform operations including dividingmedia content into a plurality of media content segments. For each mediacontent segment of the plurality of media content segments, the computerinstructions can cause the at least one processor to perform operationsfor determining a content weight for the media content segment, fordetermining a bit rate for the media content segment according to thedetermined content weight for the media content segment, and forencoding the media content segment at the determined bit rate for themedia content segment to generate a data stream for the media contentsegment. A plurality of data stream for the plurality of media contentsegments can thereby be generated. The computer instructions can causethe at least one processor to perform operations for transmitting theplurality of data streams for the plurality of media content segments ofthe media content to one or more media devices over a plurality of datachannels. The computer instructions can, in turn, cause the at least oneprocessor to perform operations for switching the plurality of datastreams between the plurality of data channels according to at least onedetermined bit rate for at least one media content segment of theplurality of media content segments.

One embodiment of the subject disclosure includes a method includingutilizing a system including at least one processor for dividing a mediacontent item into a plurality of media content segments. At each mediacontent segment of the plurality of media content segments, the systemcan be utilized for applying motion estimation between at least twovideo frames of the media content segment to determine a content weightfor the media content segment, determining a bit rate for the mediacontent segment according to the determined content weight for the mediacontent segment, and encoding the media content segment at thedetermined bit rates to generate a data stream for the media contentsegment. A plurality of data streams for the plurality of media contentsegments of the media content can thereby be generated. The system can,in turn, be utilized for transmitting the plurality of data streams forthe plurality of media content segments of the media content to the oneor more media devices.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 100 for delivering media content. The communication system 100can represent an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media system.Communication system 100 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 130 to function as a media server (herein referred toas media server 130). The media server 130 can use computing andcommunication technology to perform function 162, which can includeamong things, receive media content from, for example, the super headendoffice server 111 for distribution through the system 100. The mediaserver 130 can divide the received media content into one or more mediacontent segments. The media server 130 can then determine contentweights for each of the media content segments, where the contentweights correspond to levels of relative information change within eachof the media content segments. The media server 130 can encode the mediacontent segments, where each of the media content segments is encoded ata bit rate according to the content weight for that media contentsegment. The media server 130 can then transmit the encoded mediacontent segments one or more data streams to media devices by way of anaccess network 118, where the media devices can include media processors106 and wireless communication devices 116. The media server 130 canfurther switch the transmission of data stream to different datachannels within the access network 118 according to the bit rates of theencoded media content segments. The media processors 106 and wirelesscommunication devices 116 can be adapted with software functions 164 and166, respectively, to utilize the services of media server 130.

The IPTV media system can include a super head-end office (SHO) 110 withat least one super headend office server (SHS) 111 which receives mediacontent from satellite and/or terrestrial communication systems. In thepresent context, media content can represent, for example, audiocontent, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos, video games,virtual reality content, still image content, and combinations thereof.The SHS server 111 can forward packets associated with the media contentto one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 114 via a network of videohead-end offices (VHO) 112 according to a common multicast communicationprotocol.

The VHS 114 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 118 to commercial and/or residential buildings 102 housing agateway 104 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 118 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 119 to buildings 102. The gateway 104 can usecommon communication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 106 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 108 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 107 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller).

The gateway 104, the media processors 106, and media devices 108 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, or other present ornext generation local or personal area wireless network technologies. Byway of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 106 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 129 can be used also in themedia system of FIG. 1. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 100. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 115 carrying mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 131 coupled to thebuilding 102. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver131 can be transferred to the media processors 106 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 108. The media processors 106 can be equipped with a broadbandport to the ISP network 132 to enable interactive services such as VoDand EPG as described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 133 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system100. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 133 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services.

It is contemplated that the subject disclosure can apply to otherpresent or next generation over-the-air and/or landline media contentservices system. Some of the network elements of the IPTV media systemcan be coupled to one or more computing devices 130, a portion of whichcan operate as a web server for providing web portal services over anInternet Service Provider (ISP) network 132 to wireline media devices108 or wireless communication devices 116.

It is further contemplated that multiple forms of media services can beoffered to media devices over landline technologies such as thosedescribed above. Additionally, media services can be offered to mediadevices by way of a wireless access base station 117 operating accordingto common wireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile orGSM, Code Division Multiple Access or CDMA, Time Division MultipleAccess or TDMA, Universal Mobile Telecommunications or UMTS, Worldinteroperability for Microwave or WiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR,Long Term Evolution or LTE, and so on. Other present and next generationwide area wireless network technologies are contemplated by the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 200employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 200 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith communication system 100 as another representative embodiment ofcommunication system 100.

Communication system 200 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)240, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 230, and other commonnetwork elements of an IMS network 250. The IMS network 250 canestablish communications between IMS-compliant communication devices(CDs) 201, 202, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 203, 205,and combinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function(MGCF) 220 coupled to a PSTN network 260. The MGCF 220 need not be usedwhen a communication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 220.

IMS CDs 201, 202 can register with the IMS network 250 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 240. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 201 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 204 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF206. The originating S-CSCF 206 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 217 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 217 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 206 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 206 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 230 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 207 to submit a query to the HSS 240 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 214 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 202. Once identified, the I-CSCF 207 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 214. The terminating S-CSCF214 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 216 associated with theterminating CD 202. The P-CSCF 216 may then signal the CD 202 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 2 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 200 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 200 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 201, 202with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 100 ofFIG. 1.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD203 or CD 205 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 230 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 206 to forward the call to the MGCF 220 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 219. The MGCF 220 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 260 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 2 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 2 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 221, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a DECT base unit, or another suitable wireless access unitto establish communications with the IMS network 250 of FIG. 2. Thecellular access base station 221 can operate according to commonwireless access protocols such as Global System for Mobile (GSM), CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS), World interoperability forMicrowave (WiMAX), Software Defined Radio (SDR), Long Term Evolution(LTE), and so on. Other present and next generation wireless networktechnologies are contemplated by the subject disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies arecontemplated for the CDs of FIG. 2.

It is further contemplated that cellular phones supporting LTE cansupport packet-switched voice and packet-switched data communicationsand thus may operate as IMS-compliant mobile devices. In thisembodiment, the cellular base station 221 may communicate directly withthe IMS network 250 as shown by the arrow connecting the cellular basestation 221 and the P-CSCF 216.

It is further understood that alternative forms of a CSCF can operate ina device, system, component, or other form of centralized or distributedhardware and/or software. Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as arespective CSCF system having one or more computers or servers, eithercentralized or distributed, where each computer or server may beconfigured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step,or functionality described herein in accordance with a respective CSCF.Likewise, other functions, servers and computers described herein,including but not limited to, the HSS and ENUM server, the BGCF, and theMGCF, can be embodied in a respective system having one or morecomputers or servers, either centralized or distributed, where eachcomputer or server may be configured to perform or provide, in whole orin part, any method, step, or functionality described herein inaccordance with a respective function, server, or computer.

The media server 130 of FIG. 1 can be operably coupled to the secondcommunication system 200 for purposes similar to those described above.It is further contemplated by the subject disclosure that media server130 can perform function 162 and thereby provide streaming media contentservices to the CDs 201, 202, 203 and 205 of FIG. 2. CDs 201, 202, 203and 205, which can be adapted with software to perform function 172 toutilize the services of the media server 130. It is further contemplatedthat the media server 130 can be an integral part of the applicationserver(s) 217 performing function 174, which can be substantiallysimilar to function 162 and adapted to the operations of the IMS network250.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 302 which canbe hosted by server applications operating from the computing devices130 of the communication system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. The webportal 302 can be used for managing services of communication systems100-200. A web page of the web portal 302 can be accessed by a UniformResource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser such as Microsoft'sInternet Explorer™, Mozilla's Firefox™, Apple's Safari™, or Google'sChrome™ using an Internet-capable communication device such as thosedescribed in FIGS. 1-2. The web portal 302 can be configured, forexample, to access a media processor 106 and services managed therebysuch as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog,an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 106. The web portal 302 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

It is contemplated by the subject disclosure that the web portal 302 canfurther be utilized to manage and provision software applications162-166, and 172-174, such as transmitting and/or receiving streamedmedia content, and to adapt these applications as may be desired bysubscribers and service providers of communication systems 100-200.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 400.Communication device 400 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1-2. Thecommunication device 400 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 402 (herein transceiver 402), a user interface (UI) 404, apower supply 414, a location receiver 416, a motion sensor 418, anorientation sensor 420, and a controller 406 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 402 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, DigitalEnhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), or cellular communicationtechnologies, just to mention a few. Cellular technologies can include,for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO, WiMAX,software defined radio (SDR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), as well asother next generation wireless communication technologies as they arise.The transceiver 402 can also be adapted to support circuit-switchedwireline access technologies (such as PSTN), packet-switched wirelineaccess technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP, etc.), and combinationsthereof.

The UI 404 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 408 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device400. The keypad 408 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 400 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth. The keypad 408 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 404 can further include a display410 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 400. In anembodiment where the display 410 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 408 can be presented by way of the display 410 withnavigation features.

The display 410 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input (e.g., touch of a user's finger). Asa touch screen display, the communication device 400 can be adapted topresent a user interface with graphical user interface (GUI) elementsthat can be selected by a user with a touch of a finger. The touchscreen display 410 can be equipped with capacitive, resistive or otherforms of sensing technology to detect much surface area of a user'sfinger has been placed on a portion of the touch screen display. Thissensing information can be used control the manipulation of the GUIelements.

The UI 404 can also include an audio system 412 that utilizes commonaudio technology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heardonly in the proximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such asspeakerphone for hands free operation). The audio system 412 can furtherinclude a microphone for receiving audible signals of an end user. Theaudio system 412 can also be used for voice recognition applications.The UI 404 can further include an image sensor 413 such as a chargedcoupled device (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 414 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and charging system technologies for supplying energy tothe components of the communication device 400 to facilitate long-rangeor short-range portable applications. Alternatively, the charging systemcan utilize external power sources such as DC power supplied over aphysical interface such as a USB port. The location receiver 416 canutilize common location technology such as a global positioning system(GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS for identifying a location of thecommunication device 400 based on signals generated by a constellationof GPS satellites, thereby facilitating common location services such asnavigation. The motion sensor 418 can utilize motion sensing technologysuch as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or other suitable motion sensingto detect motion of the communication device 400 in three-dimensionalspace. The orientation sensor 420 can utilize orientation sensingtechnology such as a magnetometer to detect the orientation of thecommunication device 400 (North, South, West, East, combinedorientations thereof in degrees, minutes, or other suitable orientationmetrics).

The communication device 400 can use the transceiver 402 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wirelessaccess points by common sensing techniques such as utilizing a receivedsignal strength indicator (RSSI) and/or a signal time of arrival (TOA)or time of flight (TOF). The controller 406 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies.

Other components not shown in FIG. 4 are contemplated by the subjectdisclosure. For instance, the communication device 400 can include areset button (not shown). The reset button can be used to reset thecontroller 406 of the communication device 400. In yet anotherembodiment, the communication device 400 can also include a factorydefault setting button positioned below a small hole in a housingassembly of the communication device 400 to force the communicationdevice 400 to re-establish factory settings. In this embodiment, a usercan use a protruding object such as a pen or paper clip tip to reachinto the hole and depress the default setting button.

The communication device 400 as described herein can operate with moreor less components described in FIG. 4. These variant embodiments arecontemplated by the subject disclosure.

The communication device 400 can be adapted to perform the functions ofthe media processor 106, the media devices 108, or the portablecommunication devices 116 of FIG. 1, as well as the IMS CDs 201-202 andPSTN CDs 203-205 of FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that thecommunication device 400 can also represent other common devices thatcan operate in communication systems 100-200 of FIGS. 1-2 such as agaming console and a media player.

It is contemplated by the subject disclosure that the communicationdevice 400 shown in FIG. 4 or portions thereof can serve as arepresentation of one or more of the devices of communication systems100-200. It is further contemplated that the controller 406 can beadapted in various embodiments to perform the functions 162-166 and172-174, such as transmitting and/or receiving streamed media content.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 500for providing media content. System 500 can be overlaid or operablycoupled to communication systems 100-200 as another representativeembodiment of communication systems 100-200. System 500 can include amedia server 530 in communication with a packet switched network such asIMS network 250. The media server 530 can be in communication with amedia processor 506, such as set-top box, that is further incommunication with a media device 570, such as a television. The mediaserver 530 can provide media content, by way of a media stream, to themedia processor device 506. The media processor device 506 can furtherbe in communication with mobile communication device 516A and 516B. themobile communication devices 516A and 516B can be communicativelycoupled to the IMS network 250 through base station 517A of a mobilitynetwork A and base station 517B of mobility network B. The mobilitycommunication device 516A and 516B can communicate to the mobilitynetwork through a cellular communication technology link 545. The mobilecommunication devices 516A and 516B can receive streamed media contentfrom the media server device 530 through the IMS network 250 and themobility networks 517A and 517B.

The media server 530 can receive media content from a media contentsource 550. The media server 530 can divide the received media contentinto one or media content segments. The media server 530 can determinecontent weights for each of the media content segments, where thecontent weights correspond to levels of relative information changewithin each of the media content segments. The media server 530 canencode the media content segments, where each of the media contentsegments is encoded at a bit rate according to the content weight forthat media content segment. The media server 530 can transmit theencoded media content segments as one or more data streams to mediadevices by way of an IMS network 250, where the media devices caninclude media processors 506 and mobile communication devices 516A and516B.

The media server 530 can switch the transmission of data streams todifferent data channels according to the bit rates of the encoded mediacontent segments. For example, mobile communication device 516A can becoupled to the media server 530 by way of data link 560A, mobilitynetwork A 517A, and wireless link 564A. Similarly, mobile communicationdevice 516B can be coupled to the media server 530 by way of data link560B, mobility network B 517B, and wireless link 564B. Media processordevice 506 can be coupled to the media server 530 by way of data link560C and gateway 568C. The data links 560A, 560B, and 560C, each can bemade up of one or more data channels capable of transmitting streamedmedia content sourced from the media server 530 to the media devices516A, 516B, and 506.

The media server 530 and/or the IMS network 250 and/or mobility networks517A and 517B can switch data streams between data channels within thedata links based on the encoded bit rate of the data stream. In oneembodiment, individual data channels within the data links, such aswithin data link 560A, have different bandwidth capabilities. In anotherembodiment, individual data channels will experience different bandwidthloading as the data channels are used to communication information forseveral different devices, such as where the IMS network 250 iscommunicating with several different devices through the data link 560Aand the mobility network A 517A. As the media server 530 encodesrequested media content at various bit rates at different segments ofthe media content in response to variations in the media content weight,this streamed media content from the media server will exhibitcorresponding changes in bit rate. For example, during an actionsequence of a media program, the media server 530 may detect a highcontent weight in a segment of the media program—indicating a largeamount of variation in video image—and, in response, encode the mediacontent at a high bit rate or, alternatively, a low compression rate.The media server 530 can then stream this encoded media segment at ahigh bit rate to the receiving device, such as the mobile communicationsdevice 516A, over the data link 560A and mobility network A 517A. Someof the data channels of the data link 560A and/or the mobility network A517A can be capable of carrying the high bit rate stream of the encodedsegment due to higher inherent bandwidth or due to lower temporalloading conditions, while other data channels of the data link 560Aand/or the mobility network A 517A can be incapable of carrying the highbit rate segment. The media server 530 and/or IMS Network 250 and/or themobility network A 517A can switch the high bit rate data stream betweendata channels of to compensate for loading conditions and/or inherentdata channel limitations. The media server 530 can thereby providestreaming media content to the mobile communication devices 516A and516B and to the media processor device 506 according to the illustrativeembodiments of method 600 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative method 600 that operates in portions ofthe devices of FIGS. 1-5. Method 600 can begin with step 604 in whichthe media server 530 can receive media content for distribution to mediadevices. In one embodiment, the media content can be received from asuper headend office server. In one embodiment, the media content can bebroadcast content that is received by way of an over-the-air source suchas radio-frequency broadcasting or satellite broadcasting. In oneembodiment, the media content is received from a wired source, such as acable system. In one embodiment, the media content can bevideo-on-demand programming, such as movies, special events, ortelevision episodes that are recorded and stored at the communicationsystem 100 and then accessed by the media server 530.

In step 608, the media server 530 can divide the received media contentin to media content segments. In one embodiment, the media server 530can divide the media content into media content segments of standardtime periods. In one embodiment, the media server 530 can divide themedia content according to content type, where each segment includescontent of a single type. In one embodiment, the media server 530 canforgo dividing the media content and analyze the media content in itsentirety.

In step 612, the media server 530 can determine content weights for eachof the media content segments. In one embodiment, the content weightscorrespond to levels of relative information change within each mediacontent segment. In one embodiment, a fixed number of content weightscan be used to characterize the relative level of information change ina media content segment. For example, three levels of content weightsmay be defined as low, medium, and high. For example, a media segmentfeaturing mainly a talking head and largely an unmoving background—suchas in a newscast—can be graded by the media server 530 as a low contentweight. In another example, a segment featuring a slow motion videoimage can similarly be determined to be a low content weight segment bythe media server 530. By contrast, a video segment of a true-speedsporting event can be determined to be a high weight content segment.

In one embodiment, the media server 530 can use a motion estimationprocess to determine the content weight of media segments. For example,the media server 530 can determine a series of motion vectors foradjacent frames in a sequence of frames in a media segment. The motionvectors can describe transformational movements of objects in adjacentvideo frames as, for example, one frame image moves with respect to afirst location at a first frame and a second location at a second,adjacent frame. Motion estimation can be combined with motioncompensation as part of a process to compress the video media content.However, the media server 530 can calculate motion vectors for adjacentvideo frames and use the magnitude, or a statistic based from themagnitude, to represent a measure of the relative level of informationchange occurring in the media content images in the media segment.

In step 616, the media server 530 can detect if the media device 516A,516B, or 506 has a media delivery policy. In one embodiment, the mediadevice can have a media delivery policy that specifies a bit rate to beused for the delivery of streamed media content to the media device. Forexample, a mobile communication device 516B can specify a maximum bitrate that the device 516B can reliably receive and reproduce at itsdisplay. In another example, the mobile communication device 516B canspecify a preferred bit rate for streamed content. In one embodiment,the media server 530 establishes and maintains delivery policies.

In step 620, if the media device 516A, 516B, or 506 has a media deliverypolicy, then the media server 530 can set bit rates for encoding themedia content segments according to the media policy. In one embodiment,the media policy can specify that the media server 530 will alwaysdeliver media content to the media device 516A according to the slowesttypical bit rate or always according to the fastest typical bit rate.For example, a service plan for a media device 516A could specify lowcost streaming of media content. In such a plan, the media server 530can send low content weighted video segments at the lowest possible bitrate while sending high content weighted video segments at only a mediumbit rate to save system resources. In a different service plan, themedia server 530 can stream media content to a media device 506 at thehighest required bit rate for the content weight. In this case, if themedia server 530 determines that a high content weight is needed for amedia content segment, such as a segment from an action film, then themedia server 530 will stream the content even if this taxes systemresources.

In step 624, the media server can detect a change in a service level forthe media device 516A. In one example, the media device 516A can requesta change in service by submitting a request through a portal 302. In oneembodiment, a higher level of service can be purchased by the user of amedia device 516A. Conversely, the user of the media device 516B couldchoose to reduce the service level. In step 628, if there is a change inthe service level for the media device 516A, 516B, or 506, then themedia server 530 can adjust the media delivery policy for the mediadevice 516A, 516B, or 506 according to the change in the service level.

In step 632, the media server 530 can encode the media content segmentsat bit rates according to the determined content weights for the mediacontent segments. In one embodiment, the media server 530 can encode themedia content segments, where each of the media content segments isencoded at a bit rate according to the content weight for that mediacontent segment. The media server 530 can transmit the encoded mediacontent segments as one or more data streams to media devices by way ofan IMS network 250, where the media devices can include media processors506 and mobile communication devices 516A and 516B. In one embodiment,the encoding can be performed by the media server 530 by applyingdifferent levels of digital compression to different media segmentsaccording to the content weights of those segments. In one embodiment,the encoding can be performed by the media server 530 by applyingdifferent display pixel resolutions to different segments of the atleast a portion of the plurality of media content segments.

In step 636, the media server 530 can transmit a data stream of encodedmedia content segments to the media device 516A, 516B, or 506 at theencoded bit rates. In step 640, the media server 530 can switch the datastream of encoded media content segments between data channels accordingto the encoded bit rates. The media server 530 and/or the IMS network250 and/or mobility networks 517A and 517B can switch data streamsbetween data channels within the data links 560A-C based on the encodedbit rate of the data stream. In one embodiment, individual data channelswithin the data links, such as within data link 560A, have differentbandwidth capability. In another embodiment, individual data channelswill experience different bandwidth loading as the data channels areused to communication information for several different devices, such aswhere the IMS network 250 is communicating with several differentdevices through the data link 560A and the mobility network A 517A.

As the media server 530 encodes requested media content at various bitrates at different segments of the media content in response tovariations in the media content weight, this streamed media content fromthe media server can exhibit corresponding changes in bit rate. Forexample, during an action sequence of a media program, the media server530 may detect a high content weight in a segment of the mediaprogram—indicating a large amount of variation in video image—and, inresponse, encode the media content at a high bit rate or, alternatively,a low compression rate. The media server 530 can then stream thisencoded media segment at a high bit rate to the receiving device, suchas the mobile communications device 516A, over the data link 560A andmobility network A 517A.

In step 644, the media server 530 can determine if there are multipleencoded media content items. In one embodiment, the media server 530 canreceive multiple items of content for distribution to the multiple mediadevices 516A, 516B, and 506. For example, each of the media devices516A, 516B, and 506 can request different media programs or movies fromthe communication system 100. The media server 530 can then receive eachof the requested media content programs from a media source 550,determine content weights for each of the content segments of theseprograms, and encode each of these content segments according to thecontent weights.

In step 648, if there are multiple encoded media content items, then themedia server 530 can transmit the multiple data streams of the encodedmedia content items to the media devices 516A, 516B, or 506 at theencoded bit rates. In step 652, the media server 530 can switch themultiple data streams of encoded media content segments between datachannels according to the encoded bit rates. Some of the data channelsof the data link 560A and/or the mobility network A 517A can be capableof carrying the high bit rate stream of the encoded segment due tohigher inherent bandwidth or due to lower temporal loading conditions,while other data channels of the data link 560A and/or the mobilitynetwork A 517A can be incapable of carrying the high bit rate segment.The media server 530 and/or IMS Network 250 and/or the mobility networkA 517A can switch the high bit rate data stream between data channels ofto compensate for loading conditions and/or inherent data channellimitations.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope andspirit of the claims described below. For example, in one embodiment, amedia device 516A can store a delivery policy as a configuration andtransmit the policy details to a media server 530 upon request. Inanother embodiment, a user of the media device 516A can select orconfigure elements of a delivery policy into the device. In anotherembodiment, a media server 530 and/or another element of thecommunication system 100 can store delivery policy information for eachdevice that has permission to receive media content from the mediaserver 530.

In one embodiment, a regular service plan would allow a media device516B to receive content streams at low and medium bit rates, while apremium service plan would allow streaming at low, medium, or highrates. In one embodiment, the media server 530 can set the encoding bitrates as requested by the media device 516A, 516B, or 506. Otherembodiments are contemplated by the subject disclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 700 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods discussed above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the media server 130, the media processor 106,and/or the mobile communication device 516, and/or other devices ofFIGS. 1-5. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g.,using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, themachine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machinein server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 700 may include a processor 702 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 704 and a static memory 706, which communicate with each othervia a bus 708. The computer system 700 may further include a videodisplay unit 710 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, ora solid state display. The computer system 700 may include an inputdevice 712 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 714 (e.g., amouse), a disk drive unit 716, a signal generation device 718 (e.g., aspeaker or remote control) and a network interface device 720.

The disk drive unit 716 may include a tangible computer-readable storagemedium 722 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,software 724) embodying any one or more of the methods or functionsdescribed herein, including those methods illustrated above. Theinstructions 724 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 704, the static memory 706, and/or within theprocessor 702 during execution thereof by the computer system 700. Themain memory 704 and the processor 702 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 622 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe subject disclosure.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) are contemplatedfor use by computer system 700.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated toachieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodimentsshown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations orvariations of various embodiments. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein,are contemplated by the subject disclosure.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a memory storing computerinstructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein theprocessor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performsoperations comprising: receiving media content for distribution to oneor more media devices; dividing the received media content into aplurality of media content segments; for each media content segment ofthe plurality of media content segments: determining a content weightfor the media content segment by motion estimation between at least twovideo frames of the media content segment; determining a bit rate forthe media content segment according to the determined content weight forthe media content segment; and encoding the media content segment at thedetermined bit rate for the media content segment to generate a datastream for the media content segment, whereby a plurality of datastreams for the plurality of media content segments of the media contentare generated; and transmitting the plurality of data streams for theplurality of media content segments of the media content to the one ormore media devices.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the determinedcontent weight corresponds to a level of information change within themedia content segment of the plurality of media content segments.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the determined content weight comprise atleast one of a first parameter indicative of a high level of informationchange, a second parameter indicative of a mid-level of informationchange, a third parameter indicative of a low level of informationchange, or combinations thereof.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performsoperations comprising: determining a media delivery policy associatedwith a media device of the one or more media devices, wherein the mediadelivery policy prescribes one or more encoded bit rates for mediacontent delivered to the media device; adapting the determined bit ratefor the media content segment of the plurality of media content segmentsaccording to the one or more prescribed encoded bit rates to generate anadapted bit rate for the media content segment; and encoding the mediacontent segment of the plurality of media content segments according tothe adapted bit rate to generate the data stream for the media contentsegment.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the media delivery policy ofthe media device is determined according to a service level associatedwith the media device of the one or more media devices.
 6. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computerinstructions, performs operations comprising: detecting a change in theservice level associated with the media device; and updating the mediadelivery policy responsive to the detected change in the service level.7. The device of claim 4, wherein the media delivery policy of the mediadevice is determined according to at least one of a present location ofthe media device of the one or more media devices, a media content typeassociated with the received media content for distribution to the mediadevice of the one or more media devices, or combinations thereof.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the processor, responsive to executing thecomputer instructions, performs operations comprising: transmitting theplurality of data streams for the plurality of media content segments tothe one or more media devices over a plurality of data channels; andswitching the plurality of data streams between the plurality of datachannels according to at least one determined bit rate for at least onemedia content segment of the plurality of media content segments.
 9. Acomputer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions,which, responsive to being executed by at least one processor, cause theat least one processor to perform operations comprising: dividing mediacontent into a plurality of media content segments; for each mediacontent segment of the plurality of media content segments: determininga content weight for the media content segment; determining a bit ratefor the media content segment according to the determined content weightfor the media content segment; and encoding the media content segment atthe determined bit rate for the media content segment to generate a datastream for the media content segment, whereby a plurality of data streamfor the plurality of media content segments are generated; transmittingthe plurality of data streams for the plurality of media contentsegments of the media content to one or more media devices over aplurality of data channels; and switching the plurality of data streamsbetween the plurality of data channels according to at least onedetermined bit rate for at least one media content segment of theplurality of media content segments.
 10. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions which, when executedby the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor toperform operations comprising determining the content weight of themedia content segment from motion estimation between at least two videoframes of media content segment.
 12. The computer-readable storagemedium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions which, when executedby the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor toperform operations comprising switching of the plurality of data streamsbetween the plurality of data channels according to an availablebandwidth of at least one data channel of the plurality of datachannels.
 13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9,comprising computer instructions which, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising notifying at least one media device of the one or more mediadevices of at least one change in an encoded bit rate for at least onedata stream of the plurality of data streams.
 14. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions which, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processorto perform operations comprising: receiving from at least one mediadevice of the one or more media devices a request for a fixed bit ratefor the transmitted plurality of data stream; encoding the plurality ofmedia content segments according to the fixed bit rate to generate theplurality of data streams at the fixed bit rate; and transmitting theplurality of data stream with the fixed bit rate to the at least onemedia device.
 15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9,comprising computer instructions which, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising encoding the media content segment at the determined bit ratefor the media content segment to generate a data stream for the mediacontent segment by applying digital compression to the media contentsegment according to the determined bit rate.
 16. The computer-readablestorage medium of claim 9, comprising computer instructions which, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processorto perform operations comprising encoding the media content segment atthe determined bit rate for the media content segment to generate a datastream for the media content segment by applying a display pixelresolution to the media content segment according to the determined bitrate.
 17. A method, comprising: utilizing a system including at leastone processor for dividing a media content item into a plurality ofmedia content segments; at each media content segment of the pluralityof media content segments, utilizing the system for: applying motionestimation between at least two video frames of the media contentsegment to determine a content weight for the media content segment;determining a bit rate for the media content segment according to thedetermined content weight for the media content segment; and encodingthe media content segment at the determined bit rates to generate a datastream for the media content segment, whereby a plurality of datastreams for the plurality of media content segments of the media contentare generated; and utilizing the system for transmitting the pluralityof data streams for the plurality of media content segments of the mediacontent to the one or more media devices.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the determined content weight corresponds to a level ofinformation change within the media content segment of the plurality ofmedia content segments.
 19. The method of claim 17, comprising:utilizing the system for determining a media delivery policy accordingto a service level associated with a media device of the one or moremedia devices, wherein the media delivery policy prescribes one or moreencoded bit rates for media content delivered to the media device;utilizing the system for adapting the determined bit rate for the mediacontent segment of the plurality of media content segments according tothe one or more prescribed encoded bit rates to generate an adapted bitrate for the media content segment; and utilizing the system forencoding the media content segment of the plurality of media contentsegments according to the adapted plurality bit rate to generate thedata stream for the media content segment.
 20. The method of claim 19,comprising: utilizing the system for detecting a change in a servicelevel associated with the media device; and utilizing the system forupdating the media delivery policy responsive to the detected change inthe service level.